TWO people are in critical condition and a further six being treated in hospital following a fire in a tenement.

Fifteen people were rescued after they ran to the upper floors to escape the severe fire in the basement of the four storey tenement in Lendel Place, Glasgow.

Twenty-five firefighters braved challenging conditions to rescue all of the residents and contain the fire at around 4.10am today, Scottish Fire and Rescue said.

Police and fire investigators are still trying to establish the cause of the blaze.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: "Paisley Road West was closed and a multi-agency operation between the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Scottish Ambulance Service and Police Scotland resulted in a number of people being evacuated from the building.

"Eight people were taken to hospital, both to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and the Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

"Medical staff describe the condition of two people, a 42-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman as critical.

Twitter picture shows Lendel Place Fire in the Govan area of Glasgow last night.

"Six other people remain in hospital in a stable condition.

"Glasgow City Council facilitated a temporary rest centre within Ibrox Library which was closed when alternative accommodation was facilitated for displaced residents. Paisley Road West was reopened around 9.40am.

"A joint investigation between SFRS and Police Scotland is continuing to establish the circumstances surrounding the fire."

Six fire engines were sent from Govan, Polmadie, Maryhill and Knightswood community fire stations.

Group manager Brian Winter, the incidents commander, said "The fire crews were met with a well-developed fire in a basement, which made conditions very challenging for them.

"Given the severity of this fire and the complications it presented, the quick actions of the crews in carrying out these rescues ensured that casualty numbers were kept to a minimum and the fire damage to the building itself was mainly restricted to the basement property."

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